BRITISH MASTERS: Rory McIlroy went on a real rollercoaster ride before surviving the halfway cut in his first event as a professional.
Top amateur at the British Open in July, the Northern Ireland youngster had opened his pro career with a three-under-par 69 to be in a share of 14th place in the Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry, but in wind and rain he stood on the 16th tee in his second three over and in danger of missing out.
However, McIlroy birdied the next two before driving into the lake on the last and double-bogeying.
To his relief he then discovered his 78 had still been good enough to put him into the closing 36 holes and therefore guarantee him his first pay cheque.
"I'm happy to make the cut, but the way I finished was not good," commented McIlroy. "I rushed my tee-shot and hooked it into the water.
"Every bunker I've been up against the lip, and hopefully my luck turns a bit over the weekend and I can shoot a couple of rounds in the 60s and get myself up the leaderboard again.
"I've made the cut, so no more comparisons with Justin Rose!"
Scot Lloyd Saltman, his Walker Cup team-mate two weeks ago, was also making his European Tour debut as a pro, but produced rounds of only 75 and 79 for a 10 over total.
At the top of the leaderboard, friends Mark Foster and Lee Westwood went from having dinner together to battling for the lead.
On a day when Ryder Cup Swede Robert Karlsson broke two clubs yet still made the cut and Scot Alastair Forsyth had an 11 on one hole, the two Worksop players overcame strong winds to boost their hopes of capturing the €400,000 first prize.
Westwood, benefiting from a short-game tip from former European Tour player Mark Roe, was talking confidently after adding a 70 to his opening 66 but bogeyed his last two holes.
That finish allowed Foster and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen to take over at the top, rounds of 66 and 68 respectively taking them on to the seven under par total of 137.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth shot an opening three-under-par 69 to share 14th spot in the SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, North Carolina.
That left him four shots behind leader Mark Wiebe.
EUROPEAN SENIORS:French football pride might have suffered a dent recently after their 1-0 defeat by Scotland, but their golfing aspirations were in rude health in Denmark as Philippe Dugeny grabbed the lead going into the final round of the Scandinavian Senior Open.
The 55-year-old, who has still to taste success on the European Seniors Tour, carded a fine 66 at the Royal Copenhagen Golf Club for a six-under-par total of 136 and a one-shot lead over Scotland's John Chillas, South Africa's Bobby Lincoln and the tournament favourite and current leader of the Order of Merit, Carl Mason of England.
SENIOR WOMEN:Ireland's Mary McKenna tied for ninth place in the Senior Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Copt Heath in the West Midlands yesterday.
The nine-time Curtis Cup player from Donabate finished on 240 - 21 over par, some 11 strokes adrift of Canadian Alison Murdoch, who won at a canter by seven strokes from defending champion Christine Quinn and Rozalyn Adams, third last year.
McKenna, the Curtis Cup captain, went out in 38 to stay in touch but floundered on the homeward stretch,starting the back nine with two double bogeys and getting three bogeys in the last four holes.
She came home in 43 for an 81 to go with her 83 of Wednesday and 76 of Thursday.
Sheena O'Brien Kenney from Grange ended with an 80 for a 54-hole total of 241 and a share of 11th spot.
